Come clean, my son, as my Marion bore you." Here Cosmo interrupted his father to ask what MORTGAGED meant.

This led to an attempt on the part of the laird to instruct him in the whole state of the affairs of the property.

He showed him where all the papers were kept, and directed him to whom to go for any requisite legal advise.

Weary then of business, of which he had all his life had more than enough, he turned to pleasanter matters, and began to tell him anecdotes of the family.
"What in mercy can hae come o' the laird, think ye, my leddy ?" said Grizzie to her mistress.

"It's the yoong laird's birthday, ye see, an' they aye haud a colloguin' thegither upo' that same, an' I kenna whaur to gang to cry them till their denner." "Run an' ring the great bell," said the grandmother, mindful of old glories.
"'Deed, Is' du naething o' the kin'," said Grizzie to herself; "it's eneuch to raise a regiment--gien it camna doon upo' my heid." But she had her suspicion, and finding the great door open, ascended the stair.
The two were sitting at a table, with the genealogical tree of the family spread out before them, the father telling tale after tale, the son listening in delight.